Utilising eye detection methods for image processing in a digital image camera

ABSTRACT

A method of processing an image taken with a digital camera including an eye position sensing means said method comprising the step of utilizing the eye position information within the sensed image to process the image in a spatially varying sense, depending upon said location information. The utilizing step can comprises utilizing the eye position information to locate an area of interest within said sensed image. The processing can include the placement of speech bubbles within said image.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses a process for Utilising Eye Detection Methods in a Digital Image Camera.

The present invention relates to the field of digital image processing and in particular, the field of processing of images taken via a digital camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilising a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilising a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements.

Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation to which is was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. Further, much of the environmental information available when the picture was taken is lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the utilisation of camera eye detection techniques in a digital camera.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing an image taken with a digital camera including an eye position sensing means said method comprising the step of utilizing the eye position information within the sensed image to process the image in a spatially varying sense, depending upon said location information.

The utilizing step can comprise utilizing the eye position information to locate an area of interest within said sensed image. The processing can includes the placement of speech bubbles within said image or applying a region specific warp to said image. Alternatively the processing can include applying a brush stroke filter to the image having greater detail in the area of said eye position information. Ideally the camera is able to substantially immediately print out the results of the processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the method of operation of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 2 illustrates one form of image processing in accordance with the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment is preferable implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the concurrently filed application entitled “A Digital Image Printing Camera with Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables below.

The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and images.

In the preferred embodiment, the Artcam device is modified so as to include an eye position sensor which senses a current eye position. The sensed eye position information is utilised to process the digital image taken by the camera so as to produce modifications, transformations etc. in accordance with the sensed eye position.

The construction of eye position sensors is known to those skilled in the art and is utilised within a number of manufacture's cameras. In particular, within those of Canon Inc. Eye position sensors may rely on the projection of an infra red beam from the viewfinder into the viewer's eye and a reflection detected and utilized to determine a likely eye position.

In the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that the eye position sensor is interconnected to the ACP unit of the Artcam device as discussed in the aforementioned Australian Provisional Patent Application which is converted to a digital form and stored in the Artcam memory store for later use.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the eye position information 10 and the image 11 are stored in the memory of the Artcam and are then processed 12 by the ACP to output a processed image 13 for printing out as a photo via a print head. The form of image processing 12 can be highly variable provided it is dependant on the eye position information 10. For example, in a first form of image processing, a face detection algorithm is applied to the image 11 so as to detect the position of faces within an image and to apply various graphical objects, for example, speech bubbles in a particular offset relationship to the face. An example of such process is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein, a first image 15 is shown of three persons. After application of the face detection algorithm, three faces 16, 17 and 18 are detected. The eye position information is then utilised to select that face which is closest to an estimated eye view within the frame. In a first example, the speech bubble is place relative to the head 16. In a second example 20, the speech bubble is placed relative to the head 17 and in a third example 21, the speech bubble is placed relative to the head 18. Hence, an art card can be provided containing an encoded form of speech bubble application algorithm and the image processed so as to place the speech bubble text above a pre-determined face within the image.

It will be readily apparent that the eye position information could be utilised to process the image 11 in a multitude of different ways. This can include applying regions specific morphs to faces and objects, applying focusing effects in a regional or specific manner. Further, the image processing involved can include applying artistic renderings of an image and this can include applying an artistic paint brushing technique. The artistic brushing methods can be applied in a region specific manner in accordance with the eye position information 10. The final processed image 13 can be printed out as required. Further images can be then taken, each time detecting and utilising a different eye position to produce a different output image.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

The present invention is further best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs although it is not restricted thereto.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include:

low power (less than 10 Watts)

high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

photographic quality output

low manufacturing cost

small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.

Cross-Referenced Applications

The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:

Docket No. Reference Title IJ01US IJ01 Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer IJ02US IJ02 Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer IJ03US IJ03 Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet IJ04US IJ04 Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer IJ05US IJ05 Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer IJ06US IJ06 Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer IJ07US IJ07 Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ08US IJ08 Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ09US IJ09 Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer IJ10US IJ10 Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer IJ11US IJ11 Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ12US IJ12 Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ13US IJ13 Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer IJ14US IJ14 Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ15US IJ15 Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer IJ16US IJ16 Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ17US IJ17 PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer IJ18US IJ18 Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer IJ19US IJ19 Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer IJ20US IJ20 Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer IJ21US IJ21 Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer IJ22US IJ22 Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer IJ23US IJ23 Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ24US IJ24 Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer IJ25US IJ25 Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer IJ26US IJ26 Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer IJ27US IJ27 Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer IJ28US IJ28 Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer IJ29US IJ29 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ30US IJ30 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer IJ31US IJ31 Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer IJ32US IJ32 A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer IJ33US IJ33 Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printer IJ34US IJ34 Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising an external coiled spring IJ35US IJ35 Trough Container Ink Jet Printer IJ36US IJ36 Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet IJ37US IJ37 Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet IJ38US IJ38 Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet IJ39US IJ39 A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device IJ40US IJ40 A thermally actuated ink jet printer having a series of thermal actuator units IJ41US IJ41 A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered heater element IJ42US IJ42 Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet IJ43US IJ43 Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet IJ44US IJ44 Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer IJ45US IJ45 Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

Actuator mechanism (18 types)

Basic operation mode (7 types)

Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)

Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)

Actuator motion (19 types)

Nozzle refill method (4 types)

Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)

Nozzle clearing method (9 types)

Nozzle plate construction (9 types)

Drop ejection direction (5 types)

Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 45 examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.

ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS) Actuator Mechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Thermal bubble An electrothermal heater heats the Large force generated High power Canon Bubblejet ink to above boiling point, Simple construction Ink carrier limited to water 1979 Endo et al GB transferring significant heat to the No moving parts Low efficiency patent 2,007,162 aqueous ink. A bubble nucleates and Fast operation High temperatures required Xerox heater-in-pit quickly forms, expelling the ink. Small chip area required for High mechanical stress 1990 Hawkins et al The efficiency of the process is low, actuator Unusual materials required U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181 with typically less than 0.05% of the Large drive transistors Hewlett-Packard TIJ electrical energy being transformed Cavitation causes actuator failure 1982 Vaught et al into kinetic energy ofthe drop. Kogation reduces bubble formation U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728 Large print heads are difficult to fabricate Piezoelectric A piezoelectric crystal such as lead Low power consumption Very large area required for actuator Kyser et al lanthanum zirconate (PZT) is Many ink types can be used Difficult to integrate with electronics U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398 electrically activated, and either Fast operation High voltage drive transistors required Zoltan expands, shears, or bends to apply High efficiency Full pagewidth print heads impractical U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 pressure to the ink, ejecting drops. due to actuator size 1973 Stemme Requires electrical poling in high U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 field strengths during manufacture Epson Stylus Tektronix IJ04 Electrostrictive An electric field is used to activate Low power consumption Low maximum strain (approx. 0.01%) Seiko Epson, Usui electrostriction in relaxor materials Many ink types can be used Large area required for actuator due et all JP 253401/96 such as lead lanthanum zirconate Low thermal expansion to low strain IJ04 titanate (PLZT) or lead magnesium Electric field strength Response speed is marginal (˜10 μs) niobate (PMN). required (approx. High voltage drive transistors required 3.5 V/μm) can be generated Full pagewidth print heads impractical without difficulty due to actuator size Does not require electrical poling Ferroelectric An electric field is used to induce a Low power consumption Difficult to integrate with electronics IJ04 phase transition between the Many ink types can be used Unusual materials such as PLZSnT are antiferroelectric (AFE) and Fast operation (<1 μs) required ferroelectric (FE) phase. Perovskite Relatively high longitudinal Actuators require a large area materials such as tin modified lead strain lanthanum zirconate titanate High efficiency (PLZSnT) exhibit large strains of up Electric field strength of to 1% associated with the AFE to FE around 3 V/μm can be phase transition. readily provided Electrostatic Conductive plates are separated by a Low power consumption Difficult to operate electrostatic IJ02, IJ04 plates compressible or fluid dielectric Many ink types can be used devices in an aqueous environment (usually air). Upon application of a Fast operation The electrostatic actuator will normally voltage, the plates attract each other need to be separated from the ink and displace ink, causing drop Very large area required to achieve ejection. The conductive plates may high forces be in a comb or honeycomb structure, High voltage drive transistors may be or stacked to increase the surface required area and therefore the force. Full pagewidth print heads are not competitive due to actuator size Electrostatic A strong electric field is applied to Low current consumption High voltage required 1989 Saito et al, pull on ink the ink, whereupon electrostatic Low temperature May be damaged by sparks due to air U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068 attraction accelerates the ink towards breakdown 1989 Miura et al, the print medium. Required field strength increases as the U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,954 drop size decreases Tone-jet High voltage drive transistors required Electrostatic field attracts dust Permanent An electromagnet directly attracts a Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ07, IJ10 magnet permanent magnet, displacing ink Many ink types can be used Permanent magnetic material such as electromagnetic and causing drop ejection. Rare earth Fast operation Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnets with a field strength around High efficiency required. 1 Tesla can be used. Examples are: Easy extension from single High local currents required Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) and nozzles to pagewidth print Copper metalization should be used for magnetic materials in the neodymium heads long electromigration lifetime and low iron boron family (NdFeB, resistivity NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, etc) Pigmented inks are usually infeasible Operating temperature limited to the Curie temperature (around 540K) Soft magnetic A solenoid induced a magnetic field Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10 core in a soft magnetic core or yoke Many ink types can be used Materials not usually present in a IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17 electromagnetic fabricated from a ferrous material Fast operation CMOS fab such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or such as electroplated iron alloys such High efficiency CoFe are required as CoNiFe [1], CoFe, or NiFe alloys. Easy extension from single High local currents required Typically, the soft magnetic material nozzles to pagewidth print Copper metalization should be used for is in two parts, which are normally heads long electromigration lifetime and low held apart by a spring. When the resistivity solenoid is actuated, the two parts Electroplating is required attract, displacing the ink. High saturation flux density is required (2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe [1]) Magnetic The Lorenz force acting on a current Low power consumption Force acts as a twisting motion IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16 Lorenz force carrying wire in a magnetic field is Many ink types can be used Typically, only a quarter of the utilized. Fast operation solenoid length provides force in a This allows the magnetic field to be High efficiency useful direction supplied externally to the print head, Easy extension from single High local currents required for example with rare earth nozzles to pagewidth print Copper metalization should be used for permanent magnets. heads long electromigration lifetime and low Only the current carrying wire need resistivity be fabricated on the print-head, Pigmented inks are usually infeasible simplifying materials requirements. Magneto- The actuator uses the giant Many ink types can be used Force acts as a twisting motion Fischenbeck, striction magnetostrictive effect of materials Fast operation Unusual materials such as Terfenol-D U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,929 such as Terfenol-D (an alloy of Easy extension from single are required IJ25 terbium, dysprosium and iron nozzles to pagewidth print High local currents required developed at the Naval Ordnance heads Copper metalization should be used for Laboratory, hence Ter-Fe-NOL). For High force is available long electromigration lifetime and low best efficiency, the actuator should resistivity be pre-stressed to approx. 8 MPa. Pre-stressing may be required Surface Ink under positive pressure is held in Low power consumption Requires supplementary force to effect Silverbrook, tension a nozzle by surface tension. The Simple construction drop separation EP 0771 658 reduction surface tension of the ink is reduced No unusual materials Requires special ink surfactants A2 and related below the bubble threshold, causing required in fabrication Speed may be limited by surfactant patent applications the ink to egress from the nozzle. High efficiency properties Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Viscosity The ink viscosity is locally reduced Simple construction Requires supplementary force to effect Silverbrook, reduction to select which drops are to be No unusual materials drop separation EP 0771 658 ejected. A viscosity reduction can be required in fabrication Requires special ink viscosity A2 and related achieved electrothermally with most Easy extension fron single properties patent applications inks, but special inks can be nozzles to pagewidth print High speed is difficult to achieve engineered for a 100:1 viscosity heads Requires oscillating ink pressure reduction. A high temperature difference (typically 80 degrees) is required Acoustic An acoustic wave is generated and Can operate without a Complex drive circuitry 1993 Hadimioglu et al, focussed upon the drop ejection nozzle plate Complex fabrication EUP 550,192 region. Low efficiency 1993 Elrod et al, Poor control of drop position EUP 572,220 Poor control of drop volume Thermoelastic An actuator which relies upon Low power consumption Efficient aqueous operatoin requires a IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18 bend actuator differential thermal expansion upon Many ink types can be used thermal insulator on the hot side IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22 Joule heating is used. Simple planar fabrication Corrosion prevention can be difficult IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 Small chip area required for Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 each actuator pigment particles may jam the bend IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 Fast operation actuator IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 High efficiency IJ41 CMOS compatible voltages and currents Standard MEMS processes can be used Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads High CTE A material with a very high High force can be generated Requires special material (e.g. PTFE) IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 thermoelastic coefficient of thermal expansion PTFE is a candidate for low Requires a PTFE deposition process, IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 actuator (CTE) such as dielectric constant which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is insulation in ULSI PTFE deposition cannot be followed IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 used. As high CTE materials are Very low power with high temperature (above 350° C.) usually non-conductive, a heater consumption processing fabricated from a conductive material Many ink types can be used Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as is incorporated. A 50 μm long PTFE Simple planar fabrication pigment particles may jam the bend bend actuator with polysilicon heater Small chip area required for actuator and 15 mW power input can provide each actuator 180 μN force and 10 μm deflection. Fast operation Actuator motions include: High efficiency 1) Bend CMOS compatible voltages 2) Push and currents 3) Buckle Easy extension from single 4) Rotate pagewidth print heads Conductive A polymer with a high coefficient of High force can be generated Requires special materials development IJ24 polymer thermal expansion (such as PTFE) is Very low power (High CTE conductive polymer) thermoeslastic doped with conducting substances consumption Requires a PTFE deposition process, actuator increase its conductivity to about 3 Many ink types can be used which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs orders of magnitude below that of Simple planar fabrication PTFE deposition cannot be followed copper. The conducting polymer Small chip area required for with high temperature (above 350° C.) expands when resistively heated. each actuator processing Examples of conduction dopants Fast operation Evaporation and CVD deposition include: High efficiency techniques cannot be used 1) Carbon nanotubes CMOS compatible voltages Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as 2) Metal fibers and currents pigment particles may jam the bend 3) Conductive polymers such as Easy extension from single actuator doped polythiophene nozzles to pagewidth print 4) Carbon granules heads Shape memory A shape memory alloy such as TiNi High force is available Fatigue limits maximum number of IJ26 alloy (also known as Nitinol-Nickel (stresses of hundreds of cycles Titanium allow developed at the MPa) Low strain (1%) is required to extend Naval Ordnance Laboratory) is Large strain is available fatigue resistance thermally switched between its weak (more than 3%) Cycle rate limited by heat removal martensitic state and its high stiffness High corrosion resistance Requires unusual materials (TiNi) austenic state. The shape of the Simple construction The latent heat of transformation must actuator in its martensitic state is Easy extension from single be provided deformed relative to the austenic nozzles to pagewidth print High current operation shape. The shape change causes heads Requires pre-stressing to distort the ejection of a drop. Low voltage operation martensitic state Linear Linear magnetic actuators include the Linear Magnetic actuators Requires unusual semiconductor IJ12 Magnetic Linear Induction Actuator (LIA), can be constructed with materials such as soft magnetic alloys Actuator Linear Permanent Magnet high thrust, long travel, and (e.g. CoNiFe[1]) Synchronous Actuator (LPMSA), high efficiency using planar Some varieties also require permanent Linear Reluctance Synchronous semiconductor fabrication magnetic materials such as Actuator (LRSA), Linear Switched techniques Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) Reluctance Actuator (LSRA), and the Long actuator travel is Requires complex mult-phase drive Linear Stepper Actuator (LSA). available circuitry Long actuator travel is High current operation available Medium force is available Low voltage operation BASIC OPERATION MODE Operational mode Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Actuator This is the simplest mode of Simple operation Drop repetition rate is usually limited Thermal inkjet directly operation: the actuator directly No external fields required to less than 10 KHz. However, this is Piezoelectric inkjet pushes ink supplies sufficent kinetic energy to Satellite drops can be not fundamental to the method, but is IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04 expel the drop. The drop must have avoided if drop velocity is related to the refill method normally IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09 a sufficient velocity to overcome less than 4 m/s used IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16 the surface tension. Can be efficient, depending All of the drop kinetic energy must be IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 upon the actuator used provided by the actuator IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 Satellite drops usually form if drop IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 velocity is greater than 4.5 m/s IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Proximity The drops to be printed are selected Very simple print head Requires close proximity between the Silverbrook, by some manner (e.g. thermally fabrication can be used print head and the print media or EP 0771 658 induced surface tension reduction of The drop selection means transfer roller A2 and related pressurized ink). Selected drops are does not need to provide May require two print heads printing patent applications separated from the ink in the nozzle the energy required to alternate rows of the image by contact with the print medium or separate the drop from Monolithic color print heads are a transfer roller. the nozzle difficult Electrostatic The drops to be printed are selected Very simple print head Requires very high electrostatic field Silverbrook, pull on ink by some manner (e.g. thermally fabrication can be used Electrostatic field for small nozzle EP 0771 658 induced surface tension reduction of The drop selection means sizes is above air breakdown A2 and related pressurized ink). Selected drops are does not need to provide Electrostatic field may attract dust patent applications separated from the ink in the nozzle the energy required to Tone-Jet by a strong electric field. separate the drop from the nozzle Magnetic pull The drops to be printed are selected Very simple print head Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, on ink by some manner (e.g. thermally fabrication can be used Ink colors other than black are difficult EP 0771 658 induced surface tension reduction of The drop selection means Requires very high magnetic fields A2 and related pressurized ink). Selected drops are does not need to provide patent applications separated from the ink in the nozzle the energy required to by a strong magnetic field acting on separate the drop from the magnetic ink. the nozzle Shutter The actuator moves a shutter to block High speed (>50 KHz) Moving parts are required IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 ink flow to the nozzle. The ink operation can be achieved Requires ink pressure modulator pressure is pulsed at a multiple of due to reduced refill time Friction and wear must be considered the drop ejection frequency. Drop timing can be very Stiction is possible accurate The actuator energy can be very low Shuttered grill The actuator moves a shutter to block Actuators with small travel Moving parts are required IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19 ink flow through a grill to the can be used Requires ink pressure modulator nozzle. The shutter movement need Actuators with small force Friction and wear must be considered only be equal to the width of the can be used Stiction is possible grill holes. High speed (>50 KHz) operation can be achieved Pulsed A pulsed magnetic field attracts an Extremely low energy Requires an external pulsed magnetic IJ10 magnetic pull ‘ink pusher’ at the drop ejection operation is possible field on ink pusher frequency. An actuator controls a No heat dissipation Requires special materials for both the catch, which prevents the ink pusher problems actuator and the ink pusher from moving when a drop is not to Complex construction be ejected AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES) Auxiliary Mechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples None The actuator directly fires the ink Simplicity of construction Drop ejection energy must be supplied Most inkjets, including drop, and there is no external field Simplicity of operation by individual nozzle actuator peizoelectric and or other mechanism required. Small physical size thermal bubble. IJ01-IJ07, IJ09, IJ11 IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22 IJ23-IJ45 Oscillating ink The ink pressure oscillates, providing Oscillating ink pressure can Requires external ink pressure Silverbrook, pressure much of the drop ejection energy. provide a refill pulse, oscillator EP 0771 658 (including The actuator selects which drops are allowing higher operating Ink pressure phase and amplitude must A2 and related acoustic to be fired by selectively blocking or speed be carefully controlled patent applications stimulation enabling nozzles. The ink pressure The actuators may operate Acoustic reflection in the ink chamber IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 oscillation may be achieved by with much lower energy must be designed for IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 vibrating the print head, or Acoustic lenses can be used preferably by an actuator in the to focus the sound on the ink supply nozzles Media The print head is placed in close Low power Precision assembly required Silverbrook, proximity proximity to the print medium. High accuracy Paper fibers may cause problems EP 0771 658 Selected drops protrude from the Simple print head Cannot print on rough substrates A2 and related print head further than unselected construction patent applications drops, and contact the print medium. The drop soaks into the medium fast enough to cause drop separation. Transfer roller Drops are printed to a transfer roller High accuracy Bulky Silverbrook, instead of straight to the print Wide range of print Expensive EP 0771 658 medium. A transfer roller can also be substances can be used Complex construction A2 and related used for proximity drop separation. Ink can be dried on the patent applications transfer roller Tektronix hot melt piezoelectric inkjet Any of the IJ series Electrostatic An electric field is used to accelerate Low power Field strength required for separation Silverbrook, selected drops towards the print Simple print head of small drops is near or above air EP 0771 658 medium. construction breakdown A2 and related patent applications Tone-Jet Direct A magnetic field is used to accelerate Low power Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, magnetic field selected drops of magnetic ink Simple print head Requires strong magnetic field EP 0771 658 towards the print medium. construction A2 and related patent applications Cross The print head is placed in a Does not require magnetic Requires external magnet IJ06, IJ16 magnetic field constant magnetic field. The Lorenz materials to be integrated in Current densities may be high, force in a current carrying wire is the print head resulting in electromigration problems used to move the actuator. manufacturing process Pulsed A pulsed magnetic field is used to Very low power operation Complex print head construction IJ10 magnetic field cyclically attract a paddle, which is possible Magnetic materials required in print pushes on the ink. A small actuator Small print head size head moves a catch, which selectively prevents the paddle from moving. ACTUATOR AMPLICFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD Actuator amplification Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples None No actuator mechanical amplification Operational simplicity Many actuator mechanisms have Thermal Bubble Inkjet is used. The actuator directly drives insufficient travel, or insufficient force, IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, IJ07 the drop ejection process. to efficiently drive the drop ejection IJ16, IJ25, IJ26 process Differential An actuator material expands more Provides greater travel in a High stresses are involved Piezoelectric expansion on one side than on the other. The reduced print head area Care must be taken that the materials IJ03, IJ09, IJ17-24 bend actuator expansion may be thermal, The bend actuator converts do not delaminate IJ27, IJ29-39, IJ42 peizoelectric, magnetostrictive, or a high force low travel Residual bend resulting from high IJ43, IJ44 other mechanism. actuator mechanism to high temperature or high stress during travel, lower force formation Transient A trilayer bend actuator where the Very good temperature High stresses are involved IJ40, IJ41 bend actuator two outside layers are identical. This stability Care myst be taken that the materials cancels bend due to ambient High speed, as a new drop do not delaminate temperature and residual stress. The can be fired before heat actuator only responds to transient dissipates heating of one side or the other. Cancels residual stress of formation Actuator stack A series of thin actuators are Increased travel Increased fabrication complexity Some peizoelectric stacked. This can be appropriate Reduced drive voltage Increased possibility of short circuits ink jets where actuators require high electric due to pinholes IJ04 field strength, such as electrostatic and piezoelectric actuators. Multiple Multiple smaller actuators are used Increases the force Actuator forces may not add linearly, IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, IJ20 actuators simultaneously to move the ink. Each available from an actuator reducing efficiency IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43 actuator need provide only a portion Multiple actuators can be of the force required. positioned to control ink flow accurately Linear Spring A linear spring is used to transform Matches low travel actuator Requires print head area for the spring IJ15 a motion with small travel and high with higher travel force into a longer travel, lower requirements force motion. Non-contact method of motion transformation Reverse spring The actuator loads a spring. When Better coupling to the ink Fabrication complexity IJ05, IJ11 the actuator is turned off, the High stress in the spring spring releases. This can reverse the force/distance curve of the actuator to make it compatible with the force/time requirements of the drop ejection. Coiled A bend actuator is coiled to provide Increases travel Generally restricted to planar IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 actuator greater travel in a reduced chip area. Reduces chip area implementations due to extreme Planar implementations are fabrication difficulty in other relatively easy to fabricate. orientations. Flexure bend A bend actuator has a small region Simple means of increasing Care must be taken not to exceed the IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 actuator near the fixture point, which flexes travel of a bend actuator elastic limit in the flexure area much more readily than the Stress distribution is very uneven remainder of the actuator. The Difficult to accurately model with finite actuator flexing is effectively element analysis converted from an even coiling to an angular bend, resulting in greater travel of the actuator tip. Gears Gears can be used to increase travel Low force, low travel Moving parts are required IJ13 at the expense of duration. Circular actuators can be used Several actuator cycles are required gears, rack and pinion, ratchets, and Can be fabricated using More complex drive electronics other gearing methods can be used. standard surface MEMS Complex construction processes Friction, friction, and wear are possible Catch The actuator controls a small catch. Very low actuator energy Complex construction IJ10 The catch either enables or disables Very small actuator size Requires external force movement of an ink pusher that is Unsuitable for pigmented inks controlled in a bulk manner. Buckle plate A buckle plate can be used to change Very fast movement Must stay within elastic limits of the S. Hirata et al, a slow actuator into a fast motion. It achievable materials for long device life “An Ink-jet Head . . .” can also convert a high force, low High stresses involved Proc. IEEE MEMS, travel actuator into a high travel, Generally high power requirement February 1996, medium force motion. pp 418-423. IJ18, IJ27 Tapered A tapered magnetic pole can increase Linearizes the magnetic Complex construction IJ14 magnetic pole travel at the expense of force. force/distance curve Lever A lever and fulcrum is used to Matches low travel actuator High stress around the fulcrum IJ32, IJ36, IJ37 transform a motion with small travel with higher travel and high force into a motion with requirements longer travel and lower force. The Fulcrum area has no linear lever can also reverse the direction of movement, and can be used travel. for a fluid seal Rotary The actuator is connected to a rotary High mechanical advantage Complex construction IJ28 impeller impeller. A small angular defection The ratio of force to travel Unsuitable for pigmented inks of the actuator results in a rotation of the actuator can be of the impeller vanes, which push the matched to the nozzle ink against stationary vanes and out requirements by varying the of the nozzle. number of impeller vanes Acoustic lens A refractive or diffractive (e.g. zone No moving pargs Large area required 1993 Hadimioglu et al, plate) acoustic lens is used to Only relevant for acoustic ink jets EUP 550,192 concentrate sound waves. 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 Sharp A sharp point is used to concentrate Simple construction Difficult to fabricate using standard Tone-jet conductive an electrostatic field. VLSI processes for a surface ejecting point ink-jet Only relevant for electrostatic ink jets ACTUATOR MOTION Actuator motion Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Volume The volume of the actuator changes, Simple construction in the High energy is typically required to Hewlett-Packard expansion pushing the ink in all direction. case of thermal ink jet achieve volume expansion. This leads Thermal Inkjet to thermal stress, cavitation, and Canon Bubblejet kogation in thermal ink jet implementations Linear, normal The actuator moves in a direction Efficient coupling to ink High fabrication complexity may be IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ07 to chip surface normal to the print head surface. drops ejected normal to the required to achieve perpendicular IJ11, IJ14 The nozzle is typically in the line surface motion of movement. Linear, The actuator moves parallel to the Suitable for planar Fabrication complexity IJ12, IJ13, IJ15, IJ33 parallel print had surface. Drop ejection fabrication Friction IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 to chip surface may still be normal to the surface. Stiction Membrane An actuator with a high force but The effective area of the Fabrication complexity 1982 Hawkins push small area is used to push a stiff actuator becomes the Actuator size U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601 membrane that is in contact with the membrane area Difficulty of integration in a VLSI ink. process Rotary The actuator causes the rotation of Rotary levers may be used Device complexity IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, IJ28 some element, such a grill or to increase travel May have friction at a pivot point impeller Small chip area requirements Bend The actuator bends when energized. A very small change in Requires the actuator to be made from 1970 Kyser et al This may be due to differential dimensions can be at least two distinct layers, or to have U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398 thermal expansion, peizoelectric converted to a large motion. a thermal difference across the actuator 1973 Stemme expansion, magnetostriction, or other U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 form of relative dimensional change. IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29 IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34 IJ35 Swivel The actuator swivels around a central Allows operation where the Inefficient coupling to the ink motion IJ06 pivot. This motion is suitable where net linear force on the there are opposite forces applied to paddle is zero opposite sides of the paddles, e.g. Small chip area Lorenz force. requirements Straighten The actuator is normally bent, and Can be used with shape Requires careful balance of stresses to IJ26, IJ32 straightens when energized memory alloys where the ensure that the quiescent bend is austenic phase is planar accurate Double bend The actuator bends in one direction One actuator can be used to Difficult to make the drops ejected by IJ36, IJ37, IJ38 when one element is energized, and power two nozzles. both bend directions identical. bends the other way when another Reduced chip size. A small efficiency loss compared to element is energized. Not sensitive to ambient equivalent single bend actuators. temperature Shear Energizing the actuator causes a Can increase the effective Not readily applicable to other actuator 1985 Fishbeck shear motion in the actuator material. travel of peizoelectric mechanisms U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590 actuators Radial The actuator squeezes an ink Relatively easy to fabricate High force required 1970 Zoltan constriction reservoir, forcing ink from a single nozzles from glass Inefficient U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 constricted nozzle. tubing as macroscopic Difficult to integrate with VLSI structures process Coil/uncoil A coiled actuator uncoils or coils Easy to fabricate as a planar Difficult to fabricate for non-planar IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 more tightly. The motion of the free VLSI process devices end of the actuator ejects the ink. Small area required, Poor out-of-plane stiffness therefore low cost Bow The actuator bows (or buckles) in the Can increase the speed of Maximum travel is constrained IJ16, IJ18, IJ27 middle when energized. travel High force required Mechanically rigid Push-Pull Two actuators control a shutter. One The structure is pinned at Not readily suitable for inkjets which IJ18 actuator pulls the shutter, and the both ends, so has a high directly push the ink other pushes it. out-of-plane rigidity Curl inwards A set of actuators curl inwards to Good fluid flow to the Design complexity IJ20, IJ42 reduce the volume of ink that they region behind the actuator enclose. increases efficiency Curl outwards A set of actuators curl outwards, Relatively simple Relatively large chip area IJ43 pressurizing ink in a chamber construction surrounding the actuators, and expelling ink from a nozzle in the chamber. Iris Multiple vanes enclose a volume of High efficiency High fabrication complexity IJ22 ink. These simultaneously rotate, Small chip area Not suitable for pigmented inks reducing the volume between the vanes. Acoustic The actuator vibrates at a high The actuator can be Large area required for efficient 1993 Hadimioglu et al, vibration frequency. physically distant from the operation at useful frequencies EUP 550,192 ink Acoustic coupling and crosstalk 1993 Elrod et al, Complex drive circuitry EUP 572,220 Poor control of drop volume and position None In various ink jet designs the No moving parts Various other tradeoffs are required to Silverbrook, actuator does not move. eliminate moving parts EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications Tone-jet NOZZLE REFILL METHOD Nozzle refill method Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Surface After the actuator is energized, it Fabrication simplicity Low speed Thermal inkjet tension typically returns rapidly to its normal Operational simplicity Surface tension force relativley small Piezoelectric inkjet position. This rapid return sucks in compared to actuator force IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 air through the nozzle opening. The Long refill time usually dominates the IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 ink surface tension at the nozzle total repetition rate then exerts a small force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area. Shuttered Ink to the nozzle chamber is High speed Requires common ink pressure IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 oscillating ink provided at a pressure that oscillates Low actuator energy, as the oscillator IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 pressure at twice the drop ejection frequency. actuator need only open or May not be suitable for pigmented inks When a drop is to be ejected, the close the shutter, instead of shutter is opened for 3 half cycles: ejecting the ink drop drop ejection, actuator return, and refill. Refill actuator After the main actuator has ejected a High speed, as the nozzle is Requires two independent actuators per IJ09 drop a second (refill) actuator is actively refilled nozzle energized. The refill actuator pushes ink into the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator returns slowly, to prevent its return from emptying the chamber again. Positive ink The ink is held a slight positive High refill rate, therefore a Surface spill must be prevented Silverbrook, pressure pressure. After the ink drop is high drop retetition rate is Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces EP 0771 658 ejected, the nozzle chamber fills possible are required A2 and related quickly as surface tension and ink patent applications pressure both operate to refill the Alternative for: nozzle. IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET Inlet back-flow restriction method Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Long inlet The ink inlet channel to the nozzle Design simplicity Restricts refill rate Thermal inkjet channel chamber is made long and relatively Operational simplicity May result in a relatively large chip Piezoelectric inkjet narrow, relying on viscous drag to Reduces crosstalk area IJ42, IJ43 reduce inlet back-flow. Only partially effective Positive ink The ink is under a positive pressure, Drop selection and Requires a method (such as a nozzle Silverbrook, pressure so that in the quiescent state some of separation forces can be rim or effective hydrophobizing, or EP 0771 658 the ink drop already protrudes from reduced both) to prevent flooding of the A2 and related the nozzle. Fast refill time ejection surface of the print head. patent applications This reduces the pressure in the Possible operation of nozzle chamber which is required to the following: eject a certain volume of ink. The IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 reduction in chamber pressure results IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, in a reduction in ink pushed out IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ41 through the inlet. IJ44 Baffle One or more baffles are placed in the The refill rate is not as Design complexity HP Thermal Ink Jet inlet ink flow. When the actuator is restricted as the long May increase fabrication complexity Tektronix energized, the rapid ink movement inlet method. (e.g. Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric piezoelectric ink jet creates eddies which restrict the flow Reduces crosstalk print heads). through the inlet. The slower refill process is unrestricted, and does not result in eddies. Flexible flap In this method recently disclosed by Significantly reduces back- Not applicable to most inkjet Canon restricts inlet Canon, the expanding actuator flow for edge-shooter configurations (bubble) pushes on a flexible flap thermal ink jet devices Increased fabrication complexity that restricts the inlet. Inelastic deformation of polymer flap results in creep over extended use Inlet filter A filter is located between the ink Additional advantage of ink Restricts refill rate IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, IJ27 inlet and the nozzle chamber. The filtration May result in complex construction IJ29, IJ30 filter has a multitude of small holes Ink filter may be fabricated or slots, restricting ink flow. The with no additional process filter also removes particles which steps may block the nozzle. Small inlet The ink inlet channel to the nozzle Design simplicity Restricts refill rate IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 compared to chamber has a substantially smaller May result in a relatively large chip nozzle cross section than that of the nozzle, area resulting in easier ink egress out of Only partially effective the nozzle than out of the inlet. Inlet shutter A secondary actuator controls the Increases speed of the ink- Requires separate refill actuator and IJ09 position of a shutter, closing off the jet print head operation drive circuit ink inlet when the main actuator is energized. The inlet is The method avoids the problem of Back-flow problem is Requires careful design to minimize IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 located behind inlet back-flow by arranging the eliminated the negative pressure behind the paddle IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, IJ14 the ink-pushing ink-pushing surface of the actuator IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25 surface between the inlet and the nozzle. IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33 IJ34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 IJ40, IJ41 Part of the The actuator and a wall of the ink Significant reductions in Small increase in fabrication IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38 actuator chamber are arranged so that the back-flow can be achieved complexity moves to shut motion of the actuator closes off the Compact designs possible off the inlet inlet. Nozzle In some configurations of ink jet, Ink back-flow problem is None related to ink back-flow on Silverbrook, actuator does there is no expansion or movement eliminated actuation EP 0771 658 not result in of an actuator which may cause ink A2 and related ink back-flow back-flow through the inlet. patent applications Valve-jet Tone-jet IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD Nozzle Clearing method Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Normal nozzle All of the nozzles are fired No added complexity on May not be sufficient to displace Most ink jet systems firing periodically, before the ink has a the print head dried ink IJ01, IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 chance to dry. When not in use the IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 nozzles are sealed (capped) against IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ45 air. The nozzle firing is usually performed during a special clearing cycle, after first moving the print head to a cleaning station. Extra power to In systems which heat the ink, but Can be highly effective if Requires higher drive voltage for Silverbrook, ink heater do not boil it under normal the heater is adjacent to clearing EP 0771 658 situations, nozzle clearing can be the nozzle May require larger drive transistors A2 and related achieved by over-powering the patent applications heater and boiling ink at the nozzle. Rapid The actuator is fired in rapid Does not require extra drive Effectiveness depends substantially May be used with: succession of succession. In some configurations, circuits on the print head upon the configuration of the injet IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ11 actuator this may cause heat build-up at the Can be readily controlled nozzle IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 pulses nozzle which boils the ink, clearing and initiated by digital logic IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34 the nozzle. In other situations, it may IJ36-IJ45 cause sufficient vibrations to dislodge clogged nozzles. Extra power to Where an actuator is not normally A simple solution where Not suitable where there is a hard limit May be used with: ink pushing driven to the limit of its motion, applicable to actuator movement IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20 actuator nozzle clearing may be assisted by IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27 providing an enhanced drive signal to IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 the actuator. IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 IJ43, IJ44, IJ45 Acoustic An ultrasonic wave is applied to the A high nozzle clearing High implementation cost if system IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 resonance ink chamber. This wave is of an capability can be achieved does not already include an acoustic IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 appropriate amplitude and frequency May be implemented at actuator to cause sufficient force at the nozzle very low cost in systems to clear blockages. This is easiest to which already include achieve if the ultrasonic wave is at a acoustic actuators resonant frequency of the ink cavity. Can clear severely clogged Accurate mechanical alignment is Silverbrook, Nozzle A microfabricated plate is pushed nozzles required EP 0771 658 clearing against the nozzles. The plate has a Moving parts are required A2 and related plate post for every nozzle. The array of There is risk of damage to the nozzles patent applications posts Accurate fabrication is required Ink pressure The pressure of the ink is May be effective where Requires pressure pump or other May be used with all pulse temporarily increased so that ink other methods cannot be pressure actuator IJ series ink jets streams from all of the nozzles. This used Expensive may be used in conjuction with Wasteful of ink actuator energizing. Print head A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped across Effective for planar print Difficult to use if print head surface Many ink jet systems wiper the print head surface. The blade is head surfaces is non-planar or very fragile usually fabricated from a flexible Low cost Requires mechanical parts polymer, e.g. rubber or synthetic Blade can wear out in high volume elastomer. print systems Separate ink A separate heater is privided at the Can be effective where Fabrication complexity Can be used with many boiling heater nozzle although the normal drop e- other nozzle clearing IJ series ink jets ection mechanism does not require methods cannot be used it. The heaters do not require Can be implemented at no individual drive circuits, as many additional cost in some nozzles can be cleared inkjet configurations simultaneously, and no imaging is required. NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION Nozzle plate construction Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Electroformed A nozzle plate is separately Fabrication simplicity High temperatures and pressures are Hewlett Packard nickel fabricated from electroformed nickel, required to bond nozzle plate Thermal Inkjet and bonded to the print head chip. Minimum thickness constraints Differential thermal expansion Laser ablated Individual nozzle holes are ablated No masks required Each hole must be individually formed Canon Bubblejet or drilled by an intense UV laser in a nozzle Can be quite fast Special equipment required 1988 Sercel et al., polymer plate, which is typically a polymer Some control over nozzle Slow where there are many thousands SPIE, Vol. 998 such as polyimide or polysulphone profile is possible of nozzles per print head Excimer Beam Equipment required is May produce thin burrs at exit holes Applications, pp. 76-83 relatively low cost 1993 Watanabe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5.208, 604 Silicon A separate nozzle plate is High accuracy is attainable Two part construction K. Bean, IEEE micro- micromachined from single crystal High cost Transactions on machined silicon, and bonded to the print Requires precision alignment Electron Devices, head wafer. Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive Vol. ED-25, No. 10, 1978, pp 1185-1195 Xerox 1990 Hawkins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,899, 181 Glass Fine glass capillaries are drawn from No expensive equipment Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to 1970 Zoltan capillaries glass tubing. This method has been required form U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 used for making individual nozzles, Simple to make single Not suited for mass production but is difficult to use for bulk nozzles manufacturing of print heads with thousands of nozzles. Monolithic, The nozzle plate is deposited as a High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires sacrificial layer under the Silverbrook, surface micro- layer using standard VLSI deposition Monolithic nozzle plate to form the nozzle EP 0771 658 machined techniques. Nozzles are etched in the Low cost chamber A2 and related using VLSI nozzle plate using VLSI lithography Existing processes can be Surface may be fragile to the touch patent applications lithographic and etching. used IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ11 processes IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Monolithic, The nozzle plate is a buried etch stop High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires long etch times IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07 etched in the wafer. Nozzle chambers are Monolithic Requires a support wafer IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13 through etched in the front of the wafer, and Low cost IJ14, IJ15, I16J, IJ19 substrate the wafer is thinned from the back No differential expansion IJ21, IJ23, IJ25, IJ26 side. Nozzles are then etched in the etch stop layer. No nozzle Various methods have been tried to No nozzles to become Difficult to control drop position Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et al plate eliminate the nozzles entirely, to clogged accurately U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,413 prevent nozzle clogging. These Crosstalk problems 1993 Hadimioglu et al include thermal bubble mechanisms EUP 550, 192 and acoustic lens mechanisms 1993 Elrod et al EUP 572,220 Trough Each drop ejector has a trough Reduced manufacturing Drop firing direction is sensitive to IJ35 through which a paddle moves. complexity wicking. There is no nozzle plate. Monolithic Nozzle slit The elimination of nozzle holes and No nozzles to become Difficult to control drop position 1989 Saito et al instead of replacement by a slit encompassing clogged accurately U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068 individual many actuator positions reduces Crosstalk problems nozzles nozzle clogging, but increases crosstalk due to ink surface waves DROP EJECTION DIRECTION Ejection direction Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Edge Ink flow is along the surface of the Simple construction Nozzles limited to edge Canon Bubblejet (‘edge chip, and ink drops are ejected from No silicon etching required High resolution is difficult 1979 Endo et al shooter’) the chip edge. Good heat sinking via Fast color printing requires one print GB patent 2,007,162 substrate head per color Xerox heater-in-pit Mechanically strong 1990 Hawkins et al Ease of chip handing U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181 Tone-jet Surface Ink flow is along the surface of the No bulk silicon etching Maximum ink flow is severely Hewlett-Packard TIJ (‘roof chip, and ink drops are ejected from required restricted 1982 Vaught et al shooter’) the chip surface, normal to the plane Silicon can make an U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728 of the chip. effective heat sink IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20 Mechanical strength IJ22 Through chip, Ink flow is through the chip, and ink High ink flow Requires bulk silicon etching Silverbrook, forward drops are ejected from the front Suitable for pagewidth EP 0771 658 (‘up shooter’) surface of the chip. print A2 and related High nozzle packing patent applications density therefore low IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24 manufacturing cost IJ27-IJ45 Through chip, Ink flow is through the chip, and ink High ink flow Requires wafer thinning IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 reverse drops are ejected from the rear Suitable for pagewidth Requires special handling during IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, IJ10 (‘down surface of the chip. print manufacture IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, IJ16 shooter’) High nozzle packing IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25 density therefore low IJ26 manufacturing cost Through Ink flow is through the actuator, Suitable for piezoelectric Pagewidth print heads require several Epson Stylus actuator which is not fabricated as part of the print heads thousand connections to drive circiuts Tektronix hot melt same substrate as the drive Cannot be manufactured in standard piezoelectric ink jets transistors. CMOS fabs Complex assembly required INK TYPE Ink type Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Aqueous, dye Water based ink which typically Environmentally friendly Slow drying Most existing inkjets contains: water, dye, surfactant, No odor Corrosive All IJ series ink jets humectant, and biocide. Bleeds on paper Silverbrook, Modern ink dyes have high water- May strikethrough EP 0771 658 fastness, light fastness Cockles paper A2 and related patent applications Aqueous, Water based ink which typically Environmentally friendly Slow drying IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26 pigment contains: water, pigment, surfactant, No odor Corrosive IJ27, IJ30 humectant, and biocide. Reduced bleed Pigment may clog nozzles Silverbrook, Pigments have an advantage in Reduced wicking Pigment may clog actuator mechanisms EP 0771 658 reduced bleed, wicking and Reduced strikethrough Cockles paper A2 and related strikethrough. patent applications Piezoelectric ink-jets Thermal ink jets (with significant restrictions) Methyl Ethyl MEK is a highly volatile solvent used Very fast drying Odorous All IJ series ink jets Ketone for industrial printing on difficult Prints on various Flammable (MEK) surfaces such as aluminum cans. substrates such as metals and plastics Alcohol Alcohol based inks can be used Fast drying Slight odor All IJ series ink jets (ethanol, where the printer must operate at Operates at sub-freezing Flammable 2-butanol, and temperatures below the freezing temperatures others) point of water. An example of this is Reduced paper cockle in-camera consumer photographic Low cost printing. Phase change The ink is solid at room temperature, No drying time - ink High viscosity Tektronix hot melt (hot melt) and is melted in the print head before instantly freezes on the Printed ink typically has a ‘waxy’ feel piezoelectric ink jets jetting. Hot melt inks are usually wax print medium Printed pages may ’block’ 1989 Nowak based, with a melting point around Almost any print medium Ink temperature may be above the curie U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,346 80° C. After jetting the ink freezes can be used point of permanent magnets All IJ series ink jets almost instantly upon contacting the No paper cockle occurs Ink heaters consume power print medium or a transfer roller. No wicking occurs Long warm-up time No bleed occurs No strikethrough occurs Oil Oil based inks are extensively used High solubility medium High viscosity: this is a significant All IJ series ink jets in offset printing. The have for some dyes limitation for use in inkjets, which advantages in improved Does not cockle paper usually require a low viscosity. Some characteristics on paper (especially Does not wick through short chain and multi-branched oils no wicking or cockle). Oil soluble paper have a sufficiently low viscosity. dies and pigments are required. Slow drying Micro- A microemulsion is a stable, self Stops ink bleed Viscosity higher than water All IJ series ink jets emulsion forming emulsion of oil, water, and High dye solubility Cost is slightly higher than water based surfactant. The characteristic drop Water, oil, and amphiphilic ink size is less than 100 nm, and is soluble dies can be used High surfactant concentration required determined by the preferred Can stabilize pigment (around 5%) curvature of the surfactant. suspensions

Ink Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Pat. Pro- No./patent visional application and Number Filing Date Title Filing Date PO8066 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,227,652 Apparatus (IJ01) (July 10, 1998) PO8072 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,213,588 Apparatus (IJ02) (July 10, 1998) PO8040 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,213,589 Apparatus (IJ03) (July 10, 1998) PO8071 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,231,163 Apparatus (IJ04) (July 10, 1998) PO8047 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,247,795 Apparatus (IJ05) (July 10, 1998) PO8035 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,394,581 Apparatus (IJ06) (July 10, 1998) PO8044 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,244,691 Apparatus (IJ07) (July 10, 1998) PO8063 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6.257,704 Apparatus (IJ08) (July 10, 1998) PO8057 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,416,168 Apparatus (IJ09) (July 10, 1998) PO8056 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,220,694 Apparatus (IJ10) (July 10, 1998) PO8069 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,257,705 Apparatus (IJ11) (July 10, 1998) PO8049 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,247,794 Apparatus (IJ12) (July 10, 1998) PO8036 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,234,610 Apparatus (IJ13) (July 10, 1998) PO8048 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,247,793 Apparatus (IJ14) (July 10, 1998) PO8070 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,264,306 Apparatus (IJ15) (July 10, 1998) PO8067 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,241,342 Apparatus (IJ16) (July 10, 1998) PO8001 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,247,792 Apparatus (IJ17) (July 10, 1998) PO8038 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,264,307 Apparatus (IJ18) (July 10, 1998) PO8033 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,254,220 Apparatus (IJ19) (July 10, 1998) PO8002 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,234,611 Apparatus (IJ20) (July 10, 1998) PO8068 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,302,528 Apparatus (IJ21) (July 10, 1998) PO8062 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,283,582 Apparatus (IJ22) (July 10, 1998) PO8034 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,239,821 Apparatus (IJ23) (July 10, 1998) PO8039 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,338,547 Apparatus (IJ24) (July 10, 1998) PO8041 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,247,796 Apparatus (IJ25) (July 10, 1998) PO8004 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 09/113,122 Apparatus (IJ26) (July 10, 1998) PO8037 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,390,603 Apparatus (IJ27) (July 10, 1998) PO8043 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,362,843 Apparatus (IJ28) (July 10, 1998) PO8042 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,293,653 Apparatus (IJ29) (July 10, 1998) PO8064 15 July 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,312,107 Apparatus (IJ30) (July 10, 1998) PO9389 23 Sep. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,227,653 Apparatus (IJ31) (July 10, 1998) PO9391 23 Sep. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,234,609 Apparatus (IJ32) (July 10, 1998) PP0888 12 Dec. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,238,040 Apparatus (IJ33) (July 10, 1998) PP0891 12 Dec. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,188,415 Apparatus (IJ34) (July 10, 1998) PP0890 12 Dec. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,227,654 Apparatus (IJ35) (July 10, 1998) PP0873 12 Dec. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,209,589 Apparatus (IJ36) (July 10, 1998) PP0993 12 Dec. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,247,791 Apparatus (IJ37) (July 10, 1998) PP0890 12 Dec. 1997 Image Creation Method and 6,336,710 Apparatus (IJ38) (July 10, 1998) PP1398 19 Jan. 1998 An Image Creation Method 6,217,153 and Apparatus (IJ39) (July 10, 1998) PP2592 25 Mar. 1998 An Image Creation Method 6,416,167 and Apparatus (IJ40) (July 10, 1998) PP2593 25 Mar. 1998 Image Creation Method and 6,243,113 Apparatus (IJ41) (July 10, 1998) PP3991 9 June 1998 Image Creation Method and 6,283,581 Apparatus (IJ42) (July 10, 1998) PP3987 9 June 1998 Image Creation Method and 6,247,790 Apparatus (IJ43) (July 10, 1998) PP3985 9 June 1998 Image Creation Method and 6,260,953 Apparatus (IJ44) (July 10, 1998) PP3983 5 June 1998 Image Creation Method and 6,267,469 Apparatus (IJ45) (July 10, 1998)

Ink Jet Manufacturing

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing technniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Pat. Pro- No./patent visional Filing application and Number Date Title Filing Date PO7935 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,224,780 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM01) (July 10, 1998) PO7936 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,235,212 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM02) (July 10, 1998) PO7937 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,280,643 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM03) (July 10, 1998) PO8061 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,284,147 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM04) (July 10, 1998) PO8054 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,214,244 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM05) (July 10, 1998) PO8065 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,071,750 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM06) (July 10, 1998) PO8055 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,267,905 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM07) (July 10, 1998) PO8053 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,251,298 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM08) (July 10, 1998) P08078 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,258,285 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM09) (July 10, 1998) PO7933 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,225,138 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM10) (July 10, 1998) PO7950 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,241,904 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM11) (July 10, 1998) PO7949 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,299,786 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM12) (July 10, 1998) PO8060 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 09/113,124 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM13) (July 10, 1998) PO8059 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,231,773 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM14) (July 10, 1998) PO8073 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,190,931 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM15) (July 10, 1998) PO8076 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,248,249 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM16) (July 10, 1998) PO8075 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,290,862 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM17) (July 10, 1998) PO8079 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,241,906 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM18) (July 10, 1998) PO8050 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 09/113,116 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM19) (July 10, 1998) PO8052 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,241,905 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM20) (July 10, 1998) PO7948 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,451,216 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM21) (July 10, 1998) PO7951 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,231,772 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM22) (July 10, 1998) PO8074 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,274,056 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM23) (July 10, 1998) PO7941 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,290,861 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM24) (July 10, 1998) PO8077 15 July A Method or Manufacture of an 6,248,248 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM25) (July 10, 1998) PO8058 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,306,671 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM26) (July 10, 1998) PO8051 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,331,258 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM27) (July 10, 1998) PO8045 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,110,754 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM28) (July 10, 1998) PO7952 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,294,101 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM29) (July 10, 1998) PO8046 15 July A Method of Manufacture of an 6,416,679 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM30) (July 10, 1998) PO8503 11 Aug. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,264,849 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (July 10, 1998) (IJM30a) PO9390 23 Sep. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,254,793 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM31) (July 10, 1998) PO9392 23 Sep. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,235,211 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM32) (July 10, 1998) PP0889 12 Dec. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,235,211 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM35) (July 10, 1998) PP0887 12 Dec. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,264,850 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM36) (July 10, 1998) PP0882 12 Dec. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,258,284 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM37) (July 10, 1998) PP0874 12 Dec. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,258,284 1997 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM38) (July 10, 1998) PP1396 19 Jan. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,228,668 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM39) (July 10, 1998) PP2591 25 Mar. A Method of Manufacture of an 6,180,427 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM41) (July 10, 1998) PP3989 9 June A Method of Manufacture of an 6.171,875 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM40) (July 10, 1998) PP3990 9 June A Method of Manufacture of an 6,267,904 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM42) (July 10, 1998) PP3986 9 June A Method of Manufacture of an 6,245,247 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM43) (July 10, 1998) PP3984 9 June A Method of Manufacture of an 6,245,247 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM44) (July 10, 1998) PP3982 9 June A Method of Manufacture of an 6,231,148 1998 Image Creation Apparatus (IJM45) (July 10, 1998)

Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding us patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. Australian No./patent Pro- application visional and Filing Number Filing Date Title Date PO8003 15 July 1997 Supply Method and Apparatus 6,350,023 (F1) (July 10, 1998) PO8005 15 July 1997 Supply Method and Apparatus 6,318,849 (F2) (July 10, 1998) PO9404 23 Sep. 1997 A Device and Method (F3) 09/113,101 (July 10, 1998)

MEMS Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Pat. No./patent Provisional application and Number Filing Date Title Filing Date PO7943 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS01) PO8006 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS02) 6,087,638 (July 10, 1998) PO8007 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS03) 09/113,093 (July 10, 1998) PO8008 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS04) 6,340,222 (July 10, 1998) PO8010 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS05) 6,041,600 (July 10, 1998) PO8011 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS06) 6,299,300 (July 10, 1998) PO7947 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS07) 6,067,797 (July 10, 1998) PO7945 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS08) 09/113,081 (July 10, 1998) PO7944 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS09) 6,286,935 (July 10, 1998) PO7946 15 July 1997 A device (MEMS10) 6,044,646 (July 10, 1998) PO9393 23 Sep. 1997 A Device and Method 09/113,065 (MEMS11) (July 10, 1998) PP0875 12 Dec. A Device (MEMS12) 09/113,078 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0894 12 Dec. A Device and Method 09/113,075 1997 (MEMS13) (July 10, 1998)

IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. Australian No./patent Pro- application visional Filing and Filing Number Date Title Date PP0895 12 Dec. An Image Creation Method and 6,231,148 1997 Apparatus (IR01) (July 10, 1998) PP0870 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR02) 09/113,106 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0869 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR04) 6,293,658 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0887 12 Dec. Image Creation Method and 09/113,104 1997 Apparatus (IR05) (July 10, 1998) PP0885 12 Dec. An Image Production System 6,238,033 1997 (IR06) (July 10, 1998) PP0884 12 Dec. Image Creation Method and 6,312,070 1997 Apparatus (IR10) (July 10, 1998) PP0886 12 Dec. Image Creation Method and 6,238,111 1997 Apparatus (IR12) (July 10, 1998) PP0871 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR13) 09/113,086 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0876 12 Dec. An Image Processing Method 09/113,094 1997 and Apparatus (IR14) (July 10, 1998) PP0877 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR16) 6,378,970 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0878 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR17) 6,196,739 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0879 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR18) 09/112,774 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0883 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR19) 6,270,182 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0880 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR20) 6,152,619 1997 (July 10, 1998) PP0881 12 Dec. A Device and Method (IR21) 09/113,092 1997 (July 10, 1998)

DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The aerial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./patent Australian application Provisional Filing and Filing Number Date Title Date PP2370 16 Mar. 1998 Data Processing Method 09/112,781 and Apparatus (Dot01) (July 10, 1998) PP2371 16 Mar. 1998 Data Processing Method 09/113,052 and Apparatus (Dot02) (July 10, 1998

Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Pat. No./patent Provisional application and Filing Number Filing Date Title Date PO7991 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/113,060 Apparatus (ART01) (July 10, 1998) PO7988 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,476,863 Apparatus (ART02) (July 10, 1998) PO7993 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/113,073 Apparatus (ART03) (July 10, 1998) PO9395 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,322,181 Apparatus (ART04) (July 10, 1998) PO8017 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,747 Apparatus (ART06) (July 10, 1998) PO8014 15 July 1997 Media Device (ART07) 6,227,648 (July 10, 1998) PO8025 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,750 Apparatus (ART08) (July 10, 1998) PO8032 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,746 Apparatus (ART09) (July 10, 1998) PO7999 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,743 Apparatus (ART10) (July 10, 1998) PO7998 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,742 Apparatus (ART11) (July 10, 1998) PO8031 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,741 Apparatus (ART12) (July 10, 1998) PO8030 15 July 1997 Media Device (ART13) 6,196,541 (July 10, 1998) PO7997 15 July 1997 Media Device (ART15) 6,195,150 (July 10, 1998) PO7979 15 July 1997 Media Device (ART16) 6,362,868 (July 10, 1998) PO8015 15 July 1997 Media Device (ART17) 09/112,738 (July 10, 1998) PO7978 15 July 1997 Media Device (ART18) 09/113,067 (July 10, 1998) PO7982 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,431,669 Apparatus (ART19) (July 10, 1998) PO7989 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,362,869 Apparatus (ART20) (July 10, 1998) PO8019 15 July 1997 Media Processing Method and 6,472,052 Apparatus (ART21) (July 10, 1998) PO7980 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,356,715 Apparatus (ART22) (July 10, 1998) PO8018 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,777 Apparatus (ART24) (July 10, 1998) PO7938 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/113,224 Apparatus (ART25) (July 10, 1998) PO8016 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,366,693 Apparatus (ART26) (July 10, 1998) PO8024 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,329,990 Apparatus (ART27) (July 10, 1998) PO7940 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,072 Apparatus (ART28) (July 10, 1998) PO7939 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/112,785 Apparatus (ART29) (July 10, 1998) PO8501 11 Aug. 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,137,500 Apparatus (ART30) (July 10, 1998) PO8500 11 Aug. 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,796 Apparatus (ART31) (July 10, 1998) PO7987 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,071 Apparatus (ART32) (July 10, 1998) PO8022 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,398,328 Apparatus (ART33) (July 10, 1998) PO8497 11 Aug. 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/113,090 Apparatus (ART34) (July 10, 1998) PO8020 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,431,704 Apparatus (ART38) (July 10, 1998) PO8023 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,222 Apparatus (ART39) (July 10, 1998) PO8504 11 Aug. 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,786 Apparatus (ART42) (July 10, 1998) PO8000 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,415,054 Apparatus (ART43) (July 10, 1998) PO7977 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/112,782 Apparatus (ART44) (July 10, 1998) PO7934 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,056 Apparatus (ART45) (July 10, 1998) PO7990 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 9/113,059 Apparatus (ART46) (July 10, 1998) PO8499 11 Aug. 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,486,886 Apparatus (ART47) (July 10, 1998) PO8502 11 Aug. 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,381,361 Apparatus (ART48) (July 10, 1998) PO7981 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,317,192 Apparatus (ART50) (July 10, 1998) PO7986 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,057 Apparatus (ART51) (July 10, 1998) PO7983 15 July 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,054 Apparatus (ART52) (July 10, 1998) PO8026 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 9/112,752 Apparatus (ART53) (July 10, 1998) PO8027 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,759 Apparatus (ART54) (July 10, 1998) PO8028 15 July 1997 Image Processing Method and 09/112,757 Apparatus (ART56) (July 10, 1998) PO9394 23 Sep. 1997 Image Processing Method and 6,357,135 Apparatus (ART57) (July 10, 1998) PO9396 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/113,107 Apparatus (ART58) (July 10, 1998) PO9397 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,271,931 Apparatus (ART59) (July 10, 1998) PO9398 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,353,772 Apparatus (ART60) (July 10, 1998) PO9399 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,106,147 Apparatus (ART61) (July 10, 1998) PO9400 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/112,790 Apparatus (ART62) (July 10, 1998) PO9401 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,304,291 Apparatus (ART63) (July 10, 1998) PO9402 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 09/112,788 Apparatus (ART64) (July 10, 1998) PO9403 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,305,770 Apparatus (ART65) (July 10, 1998) PO9405 23 Sep. 1997 Data Processing Method and 6,289,262 Apparatus (ART66) (July 10, 1998) PP0959 16 Dec. 1997 A Data Processing Method and 6,315,200 Apparatus (ART68) (July 10, 1998) PP1397 19 Jan. 1998 A Media Device (ART69) 6,217,165 (July 10, 1998) 

I claim:
 1. A method of processing an image captured by a digital camera, said camera having an in-built printing device comprising an ink-ejection-type pagewidth print head and said camera including an eye position sensor adapted to sense eye position information as said image is captured, said method comprising the steps of, in the camera: storing said image and said eye position information; utilising said stored eye position information to locate an area of interest within said stored image and to process and modify said stored image within said located area of interest depending upon said eye position information, thereby generating a processed image; and printing out substantially immediately said processed image with said pagewidth ink-ejection-type print head of said printing device.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of utilising said stored eye position information to process and modify said stored image within said located area of interest includes the step of utilising said stored eye position information to speech bubbles within said located area of interest.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of utilising said stored eye position information to process and modify said stored image within said located area of interest includes the step of applying a region-specific warp to said located area of interest.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said of utilising said stored eye position information to process and modify said stored image within said located area of interest includes applying a brush stroke filter to the image wherein the filter has greater detail in said located area of interest. 